WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A resident of Lummi Island is suing Whatcom County over an upcoming ferry fare increase.

The lawsuit, filed on April 16 by Peter Earle, also names County Executive Satpal Sidhu and Public Works Director Elizabeth Kosa as defendants.

Earle claims that the county miscalculated the amount in which fares should increase based on the misclassification of other expenses.

According to court documents, 55% of the Whatcom Chief’s annual operating costs are covered by ferry fares. Earle claims that the county included the cost of emergency repairs and lease payments with the Lummi Nation as part of their projected operating costs for this year.

He believes that both should be reclassified as capital costs, rather than operating costs.

The 2022 emergency repairs for mooring structures cost nearly $800,000 and were listed as “routine maintenance work”. In comparison, Earle says that the average cost for maintenance within the past ten years was reported at just over $2500.

As for the lease payments, Earle argues that the county’s charter prohibits them from including those costs unless it’s included as part of capital expenses.

Between 2011 and 2022, ferry riders have paid over $1.4 million as part of their 55% share of the lease payments.

Earle emphasized that he and other island users are more than happy to pay their fair share of the fare, but that the calculations of any increases should be transparent and accurate.

He wants the county to stop action on fare increases until the expenses in his lawsuit are reclassified.

A hearing for a preliminary injunction was scheduled for Friday, April 26, but has since been postponed.